Fluidization and fluctuations in granular systems

Author(s):
Nichol, K.M.
Published
2011
Publication type
Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

This thesis explores how rheology and statistical mechanics can be used to describe driven granular materials. Chapter 1 is an overview of the current knowledge of slow granular flows. In Chapter 2 we characterize the liquid-like behaviour of a granular system excited by flow in a split-bottom geometry. In Chapter 3 we describe the fluctuations experienced by an object floating in our granular liquid and compare these fluctuations to the Brownian motion of particles in a thermal system. In Chapter 4 we characterize the motion of objects moving in a granular system excited by oscillatory flow. Finally, in Chapter 5, we describe both the microscopic and macroscopic motion of pucks on an air hockey table. We find the the system exhibits equipartition of rotational and translational energy and that the system can be described by van der Waals' equation of state.

Statistical mechanicsSoft condensed matterGranular materialsGranular systemsFluidizationFluctationsBrownian motionGranular media
Defense date
2011-10-04
Language
English
Supervisor(s)
Hecke, M.L. van
Committee member(s)
Eliel, E.R.; Daniels, K.; Pouliquen, O.; Oosterkamp, T.H.
Qualification
Ph.D.
Degree granting institution
Leiden Institute of Physics (LION), Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Leiden
hdl
1887/17889
ISBN(s)
9789085931058
Series
Casimir PhD Series
Volume in series
2011-16

Juridical information

Court
LEI Universiteit Leiden